Character storage arrangement for a powered typewriter action

ABSTRACT

A type action of a power driven single element typewriter is provided with a storage arrangement enabling type characters to be successively printed in response to the successive operation of corresponding type keys even though the type keys are operated prior to the completion of a previously initiated printing cycle. The orienting movement of the printing element is determined by pawls moved to an operating position by the operation of a type action for engagement with a moving member undergoing a predetermined stroke. The orienting pawls are operably engagable with the moving member only at the beginning of an orienting movement of the single print element, and orienting pawls which are moved to the operating position after the beginning of an orienting movement are resiliently maintained at the operating position for operable engagement with the moving member upon completion of the previous orienting movement.

Blum

[11] 3,827,542 Aug. 6, 1974 CHARACTER STORAGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A POWERED TYPEWRITER ACTION [75] lnventor: Rudolf Blum, Nuernberg, Germany [73] Assignee: Triumph Werke Nuernberg A.G.,

Nuernberg, Germany [22] Filed: Nov. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 308,587

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Nov. 29, 1971 Germany 2159070 [52] US. Cl. 197/16, 197/18 [51] Int. Cl B41j 23/02 [58] Field of Search 197/16, 17, 18, 98, 107

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,021,937 2/1962 Seymour 197/107 3,086,635 4/1963 Palmer 197/16 3,151,722 10/1964 Saltd 197/17 3,191,740 6/1965 Smusz et al 197/16 3,391,774 7/1968 Greer 197/16 X 3,592,313 l/l97l Castle 197/16 X 3,647,042 3/1972 Smith 197/16 X 3,721,327 3/1973 Van Der Welf gvliex Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerR. T. Rader [5 7] ABSTRACT A type action of a power driven single element typewriter is provided with a storage arrangement enabling type characters to be successively printed in response to the successive operation of corresponding type keys even though the type keys are operated prior to the completion of a previously initiated printing cycle. The orienting movement of the printing element is determined by pawls moved to an operating position by the operation of a type action for engagement with a moving member undergoing a predetermined stroke. The orienting pawls are operably engagable with the moving member only at the beginning of an orienting movement of the single print element, and orienting pawls which are moved to the operating position after the beginning of an orienting movement are resiliently maintained at the operating position for operable engagement with the moving member upon completion of the previous orienting movement.

3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CHARACTER STORAGE ARRANGEMENT FOR A POWERED TYPEWRITER ACTION This invention relates to a power driven typewriter wherein printing is effected by depressing a type key to cause a corresponding type character to be impacted against a recording medium, and more particularly to a storage arrangement which enables successively operated type keys to effect printing even though the type keys are operated prior to the completion of a previously initiated printing operation.

In a powered typewriter, a type character is printed by depressing a corresponding type key to initiate the cyclical operation of a power driven type action which effects the impacting of the type character against a suitable recording medium. However, if a type action is depressed prior to the completion of a previously operated type action, it often leads to jamming of the typewriter. Such a situation is likely to occur when a plurality of type characters are operated in rapid succession with a speed exceeding the printing capability gle print element has a plurality of type characters formed thereon at different positions, and the printing of a selected type character is effected by orienting the print element to bring the selected type character into position for printing while driving the print element in a printing movement to impact the selected type charof the typewriter, and this is particularly true with a I single element printer wherein a plurality of different type characters are located at different positions on the print element and printing of a selected type character is effected by orienting the print element to position the selected type character for printing and driving the print element in a printing movement to impact the selected type character against the recording medium. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a power driven typewriter with storage facilities enabling the printing of type characters even though the corresponding type key is depressed prior to the completion of an ongoing printing operation.

In the past, typewriters had been provided with type actions having storage facilitates to enable successive printing of type characters in response to the successive depression of corresponding type keys. However, to prevent the simultaneous depression of more than one type key, the typewriters are typically provided with a key interlock in the form of a ball ratchet. Such an arrangement is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,086,635. With the addition of a ball ratchet, a jamming of the keyboard may result unless sufficient storage facilities are provided in the type action to enable the keyboard to be rapidly cleared for further operation.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a power driven type action with increased storage facilities to enable successive printing of type characters operated in rapid succession prior to the completion of the preceding typing. operations.

Still other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a type action constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the condition of the type action in the normal rest position; and

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of another portion of the type action shown in FIG. 1 and illustrating the condition thereof in the normal rest position.

Referring now in detail to the figures in the drawing, there is shown a type action, generally indicated 11, for controlling the printing operation of a single print element typewriter, not shown. As is conventional, the sinacter against a recording medium. The type characters formed on the print element have corresponding type keys, generally indicated 13, which are located on a keyboard, not shown, with each type key forming a part of a type key means, generally indicated 15, associated with a type character on the single print element, and the printing of a selected type character is initiated by depressing the corresponding type key 13. Although only a single type action is illustrated in the drawing, it is to be understood that each type key 13 operates a similar type action 11 associated with different type characters on the single print element.

As explained below in further detail, the depression of a selected type key 13 causes a character selection means, generally indicated 17, to be driven in an operating movement by a drive means in the form of a snatch roll 19 rotatably driven by a suitable motor, not shown, to determine the proper orientation of the print element for printing the selected type character. The operating movement of the character selection means 17, actuates a control means, generally indicated 21, to enable a-coupling means, generally indicated 23, to apply drive power to a moving means, generally indicated 25, to orient the print element to the position determined by the character selection means -17 as well as to drive the print element in a printing movement to impact the selected type character against the recording medium. Although the snatch roll 19 and the coupling 23 are shown for the purpose of clarity as being separated from each other, they are preferably driven in coaxial relationship with each other, although they could alternatively be driven about different axes by suitablegear means. Furthermore, the print element, the recording medium, the motor and other portions of the typewriter are not shown since they form no part of the present invention and may be desirably conventional.

As more particularly shown in FIG. 1, the type key 13 is carried on a keylever 27 which is pivotally sup ported at a forward end thereof and has a projection 29 for engaging another portion of the type key means 15 in the form of an intermediate key member 31. The intermediate key member 31 is slidably and pivotally supported about a rod 33 which is received in a slot 35 formed in the member 31 which also has a lower projection 39 for engaging the character selection means 17. The character selection means 17 includes an interposer 41 which is supported for movement about a rod 43 which is received in a slotted portion 45 at the rearward end of the interposer 41 while the forward end of the interposer 41 is held in a rest position by a hooked portion 47 engaging the lower projection 39 of the intermediate member 31. The forward end of interposer 41 has a tooth 49 for engaging the rotating snatch roll 19 to effect a sliding operating movement along the rod 43, and a plurality of lugs, generally indicated 51, which are formed on the interposer 41 for engaging a series of rockers, generally indicated 53. In addition, the interposer 41 has another depending lug 54 for actuating the control means 21 during an operating movement of the interposer 41 to enable the coupling means 23 to apply driving power to the moving means 25 in a printing operation.

As more particularly shown in FIG. 2, the series of rockers 53 are pivotally supported for moving a combination of selector members, generally indicated 55, which are slidably supported between a pair of brackets 57, 59 located to one side of the keyboard area of the typewriter. As is conventional, each selector member 55 may be associated with a plurality of type actions 11 and is connected to an associated orienting controller 61 in the form of a pawl by suitable connecting means in the form of a pull rod 63. As is known, the orienting controller 61 serves to define an orienting position of the single print element and may be suitably mounted on a pivotally supported lever 65 which is connected in controlling relation with the print element for effecting an orienting movement thereof when the orienting controller 61 is engaged by the moving means 25. Although, not shown, the plurality of other type actions 1 1 operated by the other type keys l3, referred to hereinabove, each include corresponding keylevers 27, intermediate key members 31 and interposers 41, which are mounted in side-by-side relation, while the rotating snatch roll 19 and the rockers 53 are common to the plurality of type actions 11 and extend transversely thereto beneath the side-by-side mounted interposers 41. Furthermore, each selector member 55 is connected with an associated orienting controller 61 which defines an orienting position of the print element.

In the rest position, the keylever 27 is normally urged upwardly to a raised position by resilient biasing means in the form of a spring 67 stretched between the rearward end of thekeylever 27 and a suitable portion of the typewriter frame while the intermediate key member 31 is urged upwardly and forwardly by another spring 69 stretched between a suitable portion of the keylever 27 and the intermediate key member 31 so as to move-the intermediate key member 31 forwardly until one end of the slot 35 abuts the rod 33. The interposer 41 is normally maintained inoperative by the raised position of the intermediate key member 31 and is urged forwardly to a rest position by resilient biasing means in the form of a spring 71 stretched between a suitable, portion of the intermediate key member 31 and a suitable projection 73 formed on the interposer 41. The coupling means 23 is supported for rotational movement relative to the rotating snatch roll 19 and is rotatably driven to effect movement of the single print element. To prevent rotational movement of the coupling means 23, the control means 21 includes a coupling controller 75 having a blocking arm 77 which engages a stop abutment 79 of the coupling means 23. The selector members 55 are normally urged to a rest position by resilient biasing means in the form of a spring 81 stretched between a suitable portion of the selector member 55 and the bracket 57, while the orienting pawls 61 are normally urged to an inoperative position by suitable resilient biasing means, generally indicated 83, which may be in the form of a leaf spring.

When the type key 13 is depressed to initiate the printing of a selected type character, the projection 29 on the pivoting keylever 27 pivots the intermediate key member 31 and forces a rearward portion 37 into a conventional ball ratchet, generally indicated 85, which serves as an interlock preventing more than one intermediate key member 31 from being depressed at a given time. The pivoting of the intermediate key member 31 moves the interposer 41 downwardly and brings the tooth 49 into engagement with the rotating snatch roll 19 which drives the interposer 41 rearwardly in a sliding operating movement. With the operating movement of the interposer 41, the lugs 51 pivot the series of rockers 53 and cause a combination of corresponding selector members 55 to slide against the urging of the spring 81 from a rest position to an actuated position. As the selector members 55 move to the actuated position, a projection 87 formed thereon operates a latch means in the form of a pivotally supported latch 89 which is resiliently biased by a suitable spring 91 to hold the selector members 55 at the actuated position. The movement of a selector member 55 to the actuated position moves an associated orienting pawl 61 from the rest position to an operating position, as shown in phantom lines, for engagement by the moving means 25, thus determining the orienting movement of the print element to print the selected type character.

As the interposer 41 is driven rearwardly in an operating movement by the rotating snatch roll 19, it also drives the intermediate key member 31 from the ball ratchet to enable a type key 13 of another type action 11 to be depressed, while the depending lug 54 actuates the control means 21 to remove the blocking arm 77 of the coupling controller 75 from blocking engagement with the stop 79, thus enabling the coupling means 23 to be rotatably driven to effect the orienting movement of the print element. As more particularly shown in FIG. 1, the control means 21 includes a pivotally supported actuating member 93 which may be located at one side of the keyboard with a rod-like portion extending laterally beneath the interposer 41 for being engaged by the depending lug 54 during the operating movement of the interposer 41. The actuating member 93 and the coupling controller 75 are connected for cooperating movement with each other by a linkage, generally indicated 95, and a spring 97 stretched between actuating member 93 and the linkage 95. The linkage includes a pivotally supported catch 99 urged'against the actuating member 93 by the spring 97, and when the actuating member 93 is in the rest position, as shown in FIG. 1, the blocking arm 77 of the coupling controller 75 is maintained in engagement with the stop 79 by a projection 101 on the actuated member 93 which engages an abutment 103 on the catch 99 of the linkage 95 connected to the couping controller 75. Upon pivotal movement of the actuating member 93 to the actuated position, the projection 101 moves past the abutment 103 into a recess 105 of the catch 99, thus enabling the catch 99 to pivot under the urging of the spring 97 to pivot the coupling controller 75 and remove the blocking arm 77 from engagement with the stop 79, thus enabling the coupling means 23 to be rotatably driven to operate the moving means 25 and effect an orienting movement of the print element.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the coupling means 23 is released to operate the moving means 25 to effect an orienting movement of the print element, a moving member 107 is driven in a predetermined stroke to operably engage an orienting pawl 61 pulled to the operating position by an associated selector member 55 so as to move the pivotally supported lever 65 which is connected in controlling relation to the print element.

As shown, the moving member 107 is formed on an end of a pivotally supported cam follower 109 having a roller engaging the camming surface of an eccentric cam 111 which is rotatably driven by the operation of the coupling means 23. As the moving member 107 drives the orienting pawls 61 in a predetermined stroke, the orienting movement of the print element is thus determined. The cycle of the printing operation is defined by rotational movement of the coupling means 23, and the rotational movement of the coupling means 23 is stopped by returning the blocking arm 77 of the coupling controller 75 into blocking relation with the stop abutment 79 on the coupling means 23. To bring the blocking arm 77 into engagement with the stop 79, the coupling means 23 is provided with a camming surface 113 acting on one end of a pivotally supported cam follower 115 which is resiliently urged against the camming surface 113 by a suitable spring 117. The camming surface 113 defines a l'obe 119 which moves into engagement with the cam follower 115 approximately half way through the cycle to pivot the cam follower 115 and bring the other end 121 thereof against a shoulder 123 formed in the linkage 95 to release the catch 99 from the actuating member 93 so as to return the coupling controller 75 and the actuating member 93 to the normal rest position. The actuating member carries on another arm 125 thereof a latch release means, generally indicated 127, which releases the latch 89, when the actuating member 93 returns to the rest position, thus enabling the selector member 55 associated with the orienting pawl 61 to return to the rest position under the urging of the spring 81.

While the single print element is undergoing orienting and printing movements during the cyclical printing operation, the interposer 41 is returned to a rest position under the urging of the spring 71 in preparation for the operation of another type key means 15, and the intermediate key member 31 is returned to the normal rest position under the urging of the spring 69 if the type key 13 is no longer depressed. If the type key 13 remains depressed, then the intermediate key member 31 is prevented from returning to the rest position by the depending projection 29 which engages a shoulder 129 formed in the intermediate key member 31, thus preventing the rearward portion 37 of the intermediate key member 31 from again moving into the ball ratchet 85. Other interposers 41 are normally prevented from engaging the rotating snatch roll 19 when the actuating member 93 is in the actuated position by the rod-like portion of the actuating member 93 engaging a suitable abutment 131 on the interposers. However, with the actuating member 93 returned to the rest position and with the removal of the rearward portion 37 of the intermediate key member 31 from the ball ratchet 85, another type key means may be operated to program another type character for printing.

in accordance with the present invention, another selected type character may be stored for successive printing upon'completion of the ongoing printing operation. By the depression of another type key 13 to initiate the operation of another type action 1 in the manner hereinabove described, the corresponding interposer 41 is brought into engagement with the rotating snatch roll 19 to move the corresponding selector member 55 to the actuated position where it is retained by the operation of the latch 89. With the movement of the selector member 55 to the actuated position, the

associated orienting pawl 61 is moved from the rest position to the operating position by the movement of the pull rod 63 which carries a resilient means in the form of a spring 133 coiled therearound between a stop 135 and the orienting pawl 61. However, with the next successive orienting pawl 61 being moved to the operating position during the previously initiated orienting movement, the orienting pawl is not operably engaged by the moving member 107. With the associated selector member latched at the actuated position, the orienting member 61 is resiliently maintained at the operating position for operable engagement with the moving member 107 upon completion of the previously initiated orienting movement. As shown, the moving member 107 has a configuration extending over a distance in the direction of the predetermined stroke so that the next successive orienting pawl 61 will be urged against the moving member 107 by the spring 133. Simultaneously with the movement of the selector member 55, the interposer 41 again moves the actuating member 93 to the actuated position to again remove the controller 75 from blocking engagement with the stop 79 to continue the rotational movement of the coupling for another printing cycle while at the same time positioning the rod-like portion of the actuating member 93 for engagement with the stops 131 of the other interposers 41 to prevent an operating movement of another interposer 41.

With the other interposers 41 blocked from undergoing an operating movement and with the ball ratchet cleared of other intermediate key members 31 as hereinabove described, still another type character can be programmed for successive printing vby the provision of a storage arrangement in the type key means 15. As more particularly shown in FIG. 1, the type key means 15 is provided with a suitable detent means in the form of a leaf spring 137 located adjacent to the forward end 139 of the intermediate key member 31. When the intermediate key member is pivoted about the rod 33 by the depression of a corresponding type key 13 as previously described, the rearward end portion 37 of the intermediate key member 31 moves into the ball ratchet 85 while the forward end 139 moves upwardly over the leaf spring 137 which serves to hold the rearward end portion 37 in the ball ratchet 85. Accordingly, when the actuating member 93 is again returned to the rest position, the interposer. 41 associated with the intermediate key member 31 held in the ball ratchet 85 willundergo an operating movement to effect the printing of the associated type character as previously described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a printer having a print element with a plurality of type characters at different positions, the combination comprising:

moving means for moving the print element in an orienting movement to position a selected type character for printing,

a plurality of orienting controllers each defining different orienting positions of the print element and being movable from a rest position to an operating position for engagement with said moving means to control the movement of the print element,

a plurality of selector members each associated with a different one of said plurality of orienting controllers and being movable from a rest position to an actuated position for moving the associated orienting controller to the operating position,

a plurality of type key means each controlling the character selection means associated with said plurality of type key means and operable in response to the depression of a selected type key means for moving said selector members associated with the position of the selected type character on the type element to the actuated position,

said orienting controllers being operable to control the movement of the print element only upon engagement with said moving means at the beginning of an orienting movement of the print element and inoperable to control the movement of the print element upon engagement with said moving means after the beginning of an orienting movement, and

said selector members being resiliently connected 2. In a printer according to claim 1: said orienting controllers being in the form of pawls for engagement with said moving means at the op- 3 5 erating position,

said moving means including a moving member undergoing a predetermined stroke during an orienting movement of the print element for operably engaging said pawls moved to the operating position at the beginning of the predetermined stroke of said moving member, and

said moving member having a configuration extending in the direction of the predetermined stroke for a distance greater than the length of the predetermined stroke for blocking the movement of pawls to the operated position during an ongoing stroke by said moving member.

3. In a printer according to claim 1, the combination I further comprising:

latch means operable in response to the movement of selector members to the actuated position for latching selector members moved to the actuated position,

coupling means for controlling the application of drive power to operate said moving means to effect an orienting movement of the print element,

said coupling means being movable to effect the operation of said moving means and stationary to prevent the operation of said moving means,

control 'means normally blocking the movement of said coupling means in a rest position and being movable to an actuated position in response to the operation of said character selection means for actuating the movement of said coupling means to effect the orienting movement of the print element,

said coupling means having a camming surface formed thereon for defining a cyclical orienting movement of the print element,

said control means including a cam follower engaging the camming surface during the movement of said coupling means for returning said control means to the rest position to block the movement of said coupling means at the conclusion of the cyclical orienting movement of said print element, and

latch release means operable in response to the movement of said control means from the actuated position to the rest position for releasing said latching means to enable selector members previously moved to the actuated position to return to the rest position. 

1. In a printer having a print element with a plurality of type characters at different positions, the combination comprising: moving means for moving the print element in an orienting movement to position a selected type character for printing, a plurality of orienting controllers each defining different orienting positions of the print element and being movable from a rest position to an operating position for engagement with said moving means to control the movement of the print element, a plurality of selector members each associated with a different one of said plurality of orienting controllers and being movable from a rest position to an actuated position for moving the associated orienting controller to the operating position, a plurality of type key means each controlling the printing of a corresponding type character and being depressible to initiate the printing of the corresponding type character, character selection means associated with said plurality of type key means and operable in response to the depression of a selected type key means for moving said selector members associated with the position of the selected type character on the type element to the actuated position, said orienting controllers being operable to control the movement of the print element only upon engagement with said moving means at the beginning of an orienting movement of the print element and inoperable to control the movement of the print element upon engagement with said moving means after the beginning of an orienting movement, and said selector members being resiliently connected with said orienting controllers for resiliently urging said orienting controllers to the operating position upon movement of said selector members to the actuated position after the beginning of an orienting movement of the print element to position a previously selected type character for printing so that other orienting controllers may be subsequently moved to the operating position for operable engagement with said moving means upon completion of the ongoing orienting movement of the print element.
 2. In a printer according to claim 1: said orienting controllers being in the form of pawls for engagement with said moving means at the operating position, said moving means including a moving member undergoing a predeterMined stroke during an orienting movement of the print element for operably engaging said pawls moved to the operating position at the beginning of the predetermined stroke of said moving member, and said moving member having a configuration extending in the direction of the predetermined stroke for a distance greater than the length of the predetermined stroke for blocking the movement of pawls to the operated position during an ongoing stroke by said moving member.
 3. In a printer according to claim 1, the combination further comprising: latch means operable in response to the movement of selector members to the actuated position for latching selector members moved to the actuated position, coupling means for controlling the application of drive power to operate said moving means to effect an orienting movement of the print element, said coupling means being movable to effect the operation of said moving means and stationary to prevent the operation of said moving means, control means normally blocking the movement of said coupling means in a rest position and being movable to an actuated position in response to the operation of said character selection means for actuating the movement of said coupling means to effect the orienting movement of the print element, said coupling means having a camming surface formed thereon for defining a cyclical orienting movement of the print element, said control means including a cam follower engaging the camming surface during the movement of said coupling means for returning said control means to the rest position to block the movement of said coupling means at the conclusion of the cyclical orienting movement of said print element, and latch release means operable in response to the movement of said control means from the actuated position to the rest position for releasing said latching means to enable selector members previously moved to the actuated position to return to the rest position. 